TAL AFAR, Sept 28: An Iraqi woman suicide bomber blew herself up outside a US military office in the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar on Wednesday, killing herself and at least five others and wounding 53, police said.

It was believed to be the first attack by a female suicide bomber since the occupation began.

The US military said in a statement the bomb targeted Iraqi citizens filing for compensation at a Civil Military Operations Centre. Iraqis visit such centres to claim compensation if they lose relatives, or suffer damage to property, because of US military action.

Iraqi police said earlier the explosion was at an army recruitment centre where many people were queuing to join up.

“A suicide bomber blew herself up in front of the recruitment centre. This centre was supposed to be open today for volunteers,” Iraqi general, Nejam Abdullah, said.

While believed to be the first female suicide bombing since US-led forces occupied the country, it was not the first since the invasion in March 2003.

A woman suicide bomber in a car killed three soldiers during the US advance on Baghdad in April 2003 in an attack Saddam Hussein’s government said was carried out by two women. Some weeks later, US troops said they had killed a woman who charged at them carrying handgrenades.

Police had earlier said seven died in the explosion in Tal Afar. The US military said five died and 30 were wounded.

Iraqi and US troops recently ended a joint military operation in Tal Afar, which they say has long been a stronghold of guerillas. The US military said during the operation it killed or captured over 500 people.

They hailed the full-scale assault on the town as a success and said they had brought Tal Afar, which US forces say has been used as a conduit for foreign fighters entering Iraq from Syria, back under their control.

VIOLENCE UNABATED: The bombing came a day after the US military said it had killed the man it called Al Qaeda’s number two figure in Iraq.